OCHN Hosts Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Breakfast

contact: Suzanne Weinert • weinerts@oaklandchn.org • 248-758-1991
OAKLAND COUNTY, MI (January 10, 2025) – On Thursday, January 9, 2025, Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) celebrated Law Enforcement Appreciation Day by hosting a Law Enforcement Appreciation Breakfast.

OCHN hosts an annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Breakfast to honor the ongoing partnership and collaboration they have with local law enforcement agencies.

“Our partnerships with law enforcement continue to grow each year with initiatives such as Co-Responder and Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management. One of our biggest collaborations has been Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) and training more than 1,220 officers in mental health, substance use disorder, and crisis de-escalation,” said Trisha Zizumbo, OCHN’s Chief Operating Officer. “These partnerships affirm OCHN and law enforcement’s commitment to serving people during behavioral health crises, providing community support, and ensuring public safety.”
Nearly 100 individuals from 16 different Oakland County law enforcements agencies and organizations were present at the event and the program highlighted accomplishments of OCHN’s CIT training, officer wellness, and law enforcement success stories as a result of these partnerships.

In addition, a ceremony was held to acknowledge Sergeant April Switala of the Bloomfield Township Police Department as the CIT Executive of the Year, and Detective Kyle Hulscher of the Waterford Township Police Department as CIT First Responder of the Year.
The CIT Executive of the Year, given to Sergeant Switala, is awarded to a member of the Law Enforcement Executive Staff who actively supports the CIT program in their community. This person must demonstrate their support of CIT best practices, including a commitment to developing and sustaining community partnerships. The CIT First Responder of the Year, given to Detective Hulscher, is awarded to a CIT first responder who demonstrates continuous use of exemplary CIT knowledge and skills.
“The fact that we are hosting an event like this is a testament to the incredible strides that crisis intervention has made in recent years, said Seargent April Switala of the Bloomfield Township Police Department. “The teams that have dedicated time to supporting their communities proves how far we can go when we work together for meaningful change.”

Also acknowledged during the ceremony was OCHN’s own Co-Responder Clinician Kaylee Place with the Behavioral Health Practitioner Award. This award recognizes behavioral health practitioners who work to develop and/or advocate for CIT in their community. Leon Judd of National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Metro was presented with the Advocate Award, which recognizes a member of the community or a family member who actively participates in their local CIT program, or who may be assisting with CIT development. Receiving the Person with Lived Experience Award was Paul Shankin Jr. of the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities. This award recognizes a person, or a family member of, one living with a mental illness or co-occurring disorder who participates in their local CIT program, promotes CIT in their community, and encourages others for the advancement of CIT.

To reach non-emergency Access services, call (248) 464-6363. If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. To learn more about OCHN or its Justice Initiatives, visit www.oaklandchn.org.

About OCHN
OCHN is contracted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to lead a provider service network and manage care for approximately 30,000 Oakland County citizens at more than 400 service sites across the county. People who receive public behavioral health services through OCHN's provider network include those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health concerns, or substance use disorder. Most of these individuals have Medicaid insurance coverage.